Welcome to the first chapter of Picking Up the Pieces! Not the best title, I know, but just ignore that :) Not a lot going on in this chapter, since it's mostly an introduction, but I don't think it's too horrible.

Also, I accidentally spelled Yellow's uncle's name 'Wilson' instead of 'Wilton' at the end of Persevere. My bad.

Once again, since this is a sequel, I suggest you read Fading Fast and Persevere if you haven't already.

I'm almost positive there was something else I was going to say, but I always forget what I mean to put here. Oh well. However, I should mention that I DO NOT own Pokémon Special. And now, on with the first chapter.

Enjoy!

Chapter One

From her spot on the front steps of Elm's lab, Blue watched as Red continued to train his Pokémon. It was currently Pika's turn, and the small yellow mouse looked as though he could barely stand on his paws. Earlier, Saur, Aero and Lax had been in similar situations. Red had been at it all day- and not just one day, either. Red had changed.

Blue knew why, of course. They had all changed since the battle at the Sky Pillar. Red, though, had gone to new extremes. He was constantly training, and the exhaustion was obvious in his Pokémon. Red's Pokémon were like their trainer, though- determined not to let anybody down. So they trained.

Sighing, Blue stood and walked over to the boy. He was just about to issue another command to the Electric-type, but stopped when he saw the girl approach. She bent down and scooped up Pika, then faced Red. "Red, you need to stop this," she said. "Look what you're doing to your Pokémon."

Red glanced down at the pitiful yellow bundle in the girl's arms. Pika was exhausted, as evidenced by the heavy panting. His eyes drifted shut, and soon he was asleep in Blue's arms. "They're fine," he replied, picking another Poké Ball. "We need to keep training."

"But why, Red?" she cried. "What good will it do to keep exhausting your Pokémon?"

He glanced at her briefly, then looked to Pika, before finally avoiding looking at them altogether. "There's just something I need to do."

A heartbeat passed as realization slowly dawned on Blue's face. "You're going after Team Rocket."

The silence gave her all the answer she needed.

She sighed. "Red, I know you miss her. I do too, okay? We all do. But you have to stop this. You can't always put everything on your own shoulders." The boy remained quiet. "I promise you one day we'll beat them once and for all. But this isn't the way to do it, Red. You've seen what they can do. Charging in by yourself will only get you hurt."

Red's eyes softened as he continued to stare at his exhausted Pokémon. "I don't know what else I can do, Blue. I can't just sit around and wait for something to happen. We weren't prepared for them last time. I'm not making the same mistake again."

"Red, you know it wasn't your fault."

He shrugged. "It doesn't really matter anymore, does it? What's done is done. But it's never too late for justice."

He turned away, heading for the forest, leaving Pika in Blue's arms. She sighed as she heard a distinct "Poli, Ice Beam!" Shaking her head, she returned to the lab.

Certainly, Red was going about it the wrong way- but she wouldn't rest until there was justice for Yellow, either.

"So how are we going to do this?"

Gold stood at the head of the table- if it could be called that, as the table was round- and eyed each person sitting around him in turn. Green raised an eyebrow, but Crys sighed. "That's the third time you've asked that, Gold. We don't know."

Professor Elm nodded. "We're going to need to get more information about where they're holding them, what kind of facilities, how many guards… We're not going to save them today, Gold."

They were currently in the midst of planning to rescue the Legendary Pokémon Team Rocket had captured so far- those being Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Raikou, Entei, Suicune, Ho-Oh, Lugia and Latios. There was very little to go on, especially since Team Rocket had been suspiciously silent since the battle on the Sky Pillar.

Gold plopped back into his chair, putting his face into his palm and leaning his elbow on the table. The group was silent, having run out of ideas. They were mentally exhausted, and more than ready for the whole ordeal to be over.

"…What about that disk?" Gold ventured, glancing around again.

"What disk?" Crys asked, tilting her head slightly in confusion.

"You know," Gold continued, a grin beginning to form on his face. "The one I stole from Team Rocket that day. That had passwords for their stuff, right?"

They stared at Gold in shock, some with their jaws dropped. "Where is it, Professor Elm?" Blue asked, turned to him.

"Well… In my desk drawer, I think." He got up and walked to his desk, pulling a drawer open. He moved things around inside before producing a gold-coloured disk, which he held up with a grin.

Gold grinned triumphantly. "See? I can have good ideas."

Silver leaned against the heavy lab door as it closed behind him. He sighed. They had made progress, but the situation was really a bit much to take in. He still felt a bit awkward around the other Pokédex Holders, feeling responsible for everything that had happened. He felt that Red, especially, found it difficult to trust him. He understood completely.

Aside from the obvious tragic outcome of the battle, some things had more or less returned to normal. Rayquaza hadn't been seen since it had escaped Team Rocket, and had quite possibly found a new home. Team Rocket had been quiet, too- though some of the Pokédex Holders feared it was like before, when they had managed to capture Latios without anyone knowing about it.

Things had changed, too, of course. They were more determined than ever to disband Team Rocket once and for all. There was no more room for failure. In their own way, they each planned to exact revenge on Team Rocket. Silver was more than willing to help.

He could hear the sounds of orders and attacks coming from the forest, so he turned and headed in that direction. Just as he had figured, there was Red, training his Gyarados. He watched for a minute, still startled at the drastic change in his senior. His eyes were cold and determined, and he ignored the obvious exhaustion in his Pokémon. With a start, Silver noticed Red's Poliwrath, leaning against a tree, lacking the strength to stand. Shaking his head, the red-haired boy stepped into the clearing.

Red noticed him before he had a chance to say anything. "Go away, Silver. Gyara, Hydro Pump!"

With a tired grunt, the Pokémon complied. Silver remained silent for a moment, then said, "I'm just as angry at my father as you are, Red."

Red glared. "No. I really don't think you are."

Silver returned with a patented glare of his own. "For a different reason, maybe. I didn't know her as well as you did, but he still betrayed me. We have a common goal, Red. I won't get in your way if you don't get in mine."

Several heartbeats passed as they continued to stare each other down, then Red nodded. He reached out a hand, which Silver shook. "Deal." Then he turned back to Gyara, shouting, "Flamethrower!"

Satisfied, Silver left the forest, ready to begin a mission of his own.